Medicine shortage: Federal health minister raids Polyclinic
Patients wait in long queues only to hear there are no medicines available
" It is shocking how easy it is to set a hospital or clinic and that there is no mechanism to monitor the quality of health services," Health Services Director Dr Hassan Urooj. PHOTO: INP
ISLAMABAD:
Federal Health Minister Amir Mehmood Kiani made a surprise visit of Federal Government Hospital (Polyclinic) over complaints received about the shortage of medicines and gathered information regarding medicine availability from patients at the hospital.
On this occasion the health minister directed hospital management to ensure medicine supply and said that no negligence will be tolerated in the provision of medicines.
He further said that to ensure the provision of medicines, an online system will be implemented at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic Hospital; this system will help with the timely detection of medicine shortage. The health minister said that online management of drug inventory will be introduced in the hospitals soon. He further added that the government will increase health’s budget and through which the health insurance card facility will be extended all over the country.
On Thursday the Supreme Court had expressed its concerns over the shortage of medicines at Polyclinic Hospital. The issue was discussed while the three member bench was hearing a case regarding deputing of doctors in the federal capital.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that at Polyclinic patients keep standing in queues for medicines. And when their turn finally comes, they are told that there are no more medicines available.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2018.
Federal Health Minister Amir Mehmood Kiani made a surprise visit of Federal Government Hospital (Polyclinic) over complaints received about the shortage of medicines and gathered information regarding medicine availability from patients at the hospital.
On this occasion the health minister directed hospital management to ensure medicine supply and said that no negligence will be tolerated in the provision of medicines.
He further said that to ensure the provision of medicines, an online system will be implemented at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic Hospital; this system will help with the timely detection of medicine shortage. The health minister said that online management of drug inventory will be introduced in the hospitals soon. He further added that the government will increase health’s budget and through which the health insurance card facility will be extended all over the country.
On Thursday the Supreme Court had expressed its concerns over the shortage of medicines at Polyclinic Hospital. The issue was discussed while the three member bench was hearing a case regarding deputing of doctors in the federal capital.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that at Polyclinic patients keep standing in queues for medicines. And when their turn finally comes, they are told that there are no more medicines available.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2018.